2 weeks ago
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By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA–The Federal High Court sitting successful Abuja, connected Tuesday, deferred the proceedings of the detained commandant of the Ansaru violent sect, Mahmud Usman, till November 19.
Ansaru, a breakaway faction of the Boko Haram violent group, was linked to respective high-profile attacks and kidnappings crossed the country.
Usman, besides known arsenic Abu Bara’a, is answering to a 32-count complaint the Federal Government preferred against him and his alleged deputy, Abubakar Abba, popularly called Mahmud Al-Nigeri oregon Isah Adam/Mallam Mamuda.
FG alleged that the defendants, captured betwixt May and July 2025 aft intelligence-led operations by information agencies, masterminded assorted acts of terrorism.
They were said to person collected ransom moving into millions of naira from families of their victims.
In the complaint marked FHC/ABJ/CR/464/2025, FG alleged that Usman who is from Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, and 1 Mahmud Al-Nigeri from Daura LGA of Katsina State, aided and abetted violent attacks that occurred successful the state betwixt 2013 and 2015.
It told the tribunal that the defendants conspired and agreed to service arsenic apical commanders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fii Bilaadis Sudan (JAMBS/Ansaru), a proscribed organisation successful Nigeria that has links with the Al Qaeda violent network.
The defendants were further accused of receiving grooming successful weapons handling, fabrication of Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs), and warfare tactics from Jama’atu Nusratil Islami Wal Muslimin (JNIM), a Mali-based violent group.
More so, FG alleged that they participated successful the 2022 onslaught connected Wawa Cantonment of the Nigerian Army successful New-Bussa, Niger State, which resulted successful wide casualties.
Usman was described arsenic the “coordinator of violent sleeper cells crossed Nigeria and the mastermind of respective high-profile kidnappings and equipped robberies utilized to money terrorism. ”
Arrest of the defendants was announced connected August 16 by the National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, who disclosed that they had been connected nationalist and planetary panic ticker lists.
When the lawsuit came up connected Tuesday, the tribunal took cognizance of a missive the counsel representing the Department of State Services, DSS, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, wrote to explicate his unavailability for the trial.
Abubakar applied for the lawsuit to beryllium adjourned to different date, a petition that was not opposed by the defendants.
Consequently, Justice Emeka Nwite deferred further proceedings connected the substance till November.
It volition beryllium recalled that Usman was connected September 11, sentenced to 15 years successful situation aft helium pleaded blameworthy to 1 number successful the complaint against them.
Usman admitted earlier the tribunal that helium engaged successful amerciable mining activities and utilized the proceeds to get arms that aided his coercion and kidnapping activities.
He, however, denied different allegations that FG levelled against him successful the complaint earlier the court.
On part, the 2nd defendant, Abba, pleaded not blameworthy to the full charge.
The station Terrorism: Court shifts proceedings of Ansaru commander, Usman to Nov 19 appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.
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